Nut-cracker.



No. 827,648. PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.

J. B. P.. MILLER.

NUTGRAGKBR.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 23, 1906.

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7 Illlllllllnu No. 827,648. PATENTED JULY31, 1906.

J.'B. P. MILLER.

NUTGRAOKER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1906.

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, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1906.

Application filed January 23, 1906. Serial No. 297,461.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. P. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefierson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful improvements in Nut-Crackers, of which the foilowing is a specification.

This invention relates to nut-crackers, the object of the invention being to provide a combination implement especially designed for cracking and shelling nuts with hard shells and preventing the loss and escape of any part of the nut during the cracking or shelling operation.

A further object of the invention is to so combine the parts of the deivce that they may be disassociated and separately used as occasion may require.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will morefullyappearas the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more inily described, illustrated, and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure -1 is perspective view of a nut-cracker'embodying the present invention andshown applied to a table. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation showing the manner of securing the handle member of the device to a table. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the combined drawer and anvil. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the ribbed impact-surface of the flange-head.

The combination nut-crackr contem plated in this invention comprises a solid metal base 1, having laterally-extending bracesl2 radiating therefrom and provided with feet 3, adapted to receive screws or other fasteners 4 for securing the same to a table or other horizontal su port. The base is filrther rovided with a aterally-extending clampug 5, the outer extremity of which is undercut, as shown at 6, to form-a projecting extension or tongue 7, which enters a slot 3, extending longitudinally of a clamp 9, so-

as to properly position said clamp relatively to the lug, the clamp being provided with a foot 10, adapted to extend under a table-top, and a lug or projection 11 at the upper end, having a threaded opening for the reception of a clamp-screw 12, the inner end of which bears against the clamp-lug 5 to hold the same against the table, as shown in Fig. 1;

The base is flanged or extended at the top,

as shown at 13, and provided with an integrally-formed box compartment or housing 14, in which is arranged a sliding and removable drawer consisting of the solid bottom 15, front 16, and upwardly-extending flange 17 said drawer being also provided with a drawer-pull 18, enabling the drawer to be moved through the front of the box 14 in a manner readily understood. The upper surface of the bottom.15 is recessed or concaved, as shown at 19, thus'forming a concave anvil against which the nuts are cracked in a mannor that will hereinafter appear.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the drawer is provided with a downward extension or offset 2011c give a broad firm bearing directly over and upon the solid base 1 and to provide forthe formation of the recess in the bottom. 21 designates ribs which extend toward the front and rear of the bottom of the drawer and form continuations of the offset thickened portion 20 of the drawerbottom. 22 designates a catch or button for holding the drawer closed.

Mounted upon the top of the box 14 is an upwardly-tapering or pyramidal-shaped (plunger-housing and guide 23, having openwork ornamental sides, as shown at 24, said housing being provided with lu s' 25, by

means. of which it may be secure firmly to the box 14. The upper end of the lungerhousing is made of considerable thickness, as shown at 26, to provide a hearing for the lunger 27. This plunger is preferably solid, so as to impart the necessary epth or weight thereto, and is provided at its lower end with an enlarged hemispherical head 28, the lower working or impact surface of which is ribbed, as shown at 29, so as to distribute the breaking or crackin strain over difierent portions of the nut-she 1. These ribs 29 are preferably arranged to radiate from a com mon center, as shown in Fig.- 5.

The upper end of the plunger 27 is reduced and threaded, as shown at 30, so as. to detachably receive a combination-handle 31. This handle embodies an attaching-bar 32,

provided with a threaded o enin to receive the threaded extremity 30 o the un er, and a hand-grip 33, which is paralle to t a base portion 32, the parts 32 and 33 being connected by the end cross-bars 3 1.and 35, in which is j ournaled a j aw-operating screw 36.

At one end the detachable handle-frame just referred to is provided with a fixed vise- Jaw 37 and opposite said jaw is arranged a sliding vise-jaw 38, the body portion 39 of I claim which moves between the parts 32-and 33 of the combination-handle and is provided with a threaded openin engaged by the adjustingscrew 36, thus ena bling themoving jaw to be advanced and retracted for the urpose of cracking a nutshell. It is also esirable to extend the fixed aw 37' outward in the form of a claw 40. 41 designates a suitable operating-handle fast on the end of the screw 36, for turning the latter and advancin and retractin the movable jaw 38. At t e op 0- site en with a dprojecting 011 or hammeread 42, adapte to be used y hand when the combination-handle is detached from the plunger after the manner of an ordinary hammer.

The combination-handle is provided with a laterallyrojecting clamp-lug 43 (best illusj adapted to be engaged trated in ig. 3) an by the clamp hereinbefore described for tening the said combination-handle to a tableor other support, so that it may be operated independently of the plun er mechanism. Itis ordinarily preferred, owever, to combine and mount all of the parts in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the base is firmly secured to a table or other suitable support and all the remaining parts of the machine firmly secured to such base. I

When the plunger is in its lowermost posi tion, it may be locked or held in such position by meansof a bindi -screw 44, passing through the bearing 26 o the plunger-housing and bearing against the lunger. In this position the drawer 15 is he (1 locked against removal, adapting the device to be used as a toy bank.

the combination-handle is rov1 ed Y 1. A nut-cracker embodying a solid base, a box-compartment arising form the base, a drawer removable form said box-compartment and having a bottom which forms an anvil, and a vertically-movable plunger operating through the top of the box-compartment and provided with animpact-head,

substantially as described.

' 2. A nut-cracker embodying a solid base, a box-compartment extending upward from the base, a drawe removable from said boxcompartment an having a bottom recessed in its upper surface to form an anvil, a plunigTer-housing and guide extending u ward om the box-compartment, and a p unger 1 working vertically through said housing and guide and provided at the lower end with a cad having a ribbed impact-surface, substantially as described.

3. A nut-cracker embodying a solid base, 1

a box-compartment extending-upward there:

from, a combination drawer and anvil having a recessed working surface mounted in said box-compartment and removable therefrom, a plunger-housing and guide extending upward from said box-compartment, and a vertically-movable plunger lower end with a crushingead'having a ribbed impact-surface, the ribs of which extend radially or substantially so, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN B. MILLER. Witnesses: I

J. S. CRowDER, H. F. MILLER.

pi'ovided at its 

